UNDER-FIRE Government ministers have delayed their funding to councils by another week - sparking hope of a last-gasp helping hand, it emerged today.

Worcestershire County Council was expecting its final funding deal for 2016/17 to be confirmed last night after being warned of a provisional £18 million plunge in its main grant.

Local Government Secretary Greg Clark has now delayed it until next week, in what could be a signal of some sort of reprieve after getting serious criticism.

It comes as County Hall's Conservative cabinet today agreed to endorse a £322 million budget for the next financial year - the next step before all 57 councillors vote on it next Thursday.

The spending plans include a 3.9 per cent council tax rise, as your Worcester News first revealed in December, but also a record £12 million two-year roads investment programme and £2.2 million into town and city centre upgrades.

Councillor Simon Geraghty, the new leader, went to Westminster on Tuesday to see Mr Clark for talks over the budget after sending Whitehall a hard-hitting letter calling the Government's position "exceptionally disappointing".

Speaking during today's cabinet meeting, he said the leadership would plough on with its budget plans and insisted that despite the "challenges" it contains ambitious investments.

The extra £11 million 'gap' has now been closed for 2016/17 without any frontline cuts, meaning any extra late funds now would be seen as a bonus.

But the harsh settlement means the forecasted savings requirement for 2017/18 has surged from around £25 million to £34 million, of which £20 million still needs to be identified.

Councillor Geraghty said: "The medium term financial landscape remains challenging and there is that gap we will need to move onto relatively quickly.

"There's a lot of work to do in a whole variety of areas, but I would say to (councillors) and members of the public, we have a year ahead of us in which to do that, which is quite a period of time.

"Overall, this is a balanced budget and one that's ambitious for this county."

Fellow members of the cabinet said they were optimistic about the future, with deputy leader Councillor Anthony Blagg saying they would not "go all Oliver Twist" and simply beg central Government for more handouts.

A council tax rise would add more than £42 a year to the average band D budget, but half of the £8 million-plus raised will be sunk into adult social care while the rest will prop up the children's social care budget.

Councillor Marcus Hart, the cabinet member for health and well-being, said going back to Government with a begging bowl "won't wash" but added: "It's clear from our roadshows that protecting vulnerable children, protecting vulnerable adults and investing in our highways are the top three priorities people have - this budget tackles all of those areas head-on."

The Tory cabinet was handed an olive branch from the opposition Labour group's chairman Councillor Richard Udall, who spoke during the cabinet meeting and called the budget "sound".

He also took another swipe at ministers, saying "successive Governments" have "let down" Worcestershire.

Councillor Geraghty said the week's delay "may be a sign" that the Government is reflecting on the feedback from shire authorities in recent weeks.

* Worcestershire County Council's new leader heading to Westminster for showdown talks over cuts

* SPECIAL REPORT: Millions more savings needed at Worcestershire County Council as leader calls Government offer "deeply concerning"

* See the council's letter to Mr Clark HERE

* SPECIAL REPORT: New county council leader - 'how I'll take Worcestershire forward'